New Music & News

Music fans are awaiting the arrival of the 2018 Grammy Awards after the announcement of this year’s nominations. Leading the way are two of music’s biggest talents, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, for Jay-Z is looking forward to a whopping 8 nominations for his album 4:44 and song “The Story of OJ.”

Widely known for sometimes failing to acknowledge achievement from non-white artists over the years, The Grammy Awards have left some surprised with the nominations this year being that no white male artist or group were nominated for album of the year. This is the first time since 1999 that the window for non-white artists to dominate the awards has reopened.

While numerous highlights from this year in music were given recognition, fans have expressed disapproval in artists such as Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, and Tyler The Creator being snubbed from the nominations while artists like Jay-Z monopolized the show with 8 nominations. Ultimately, fans and artists alike look forward to a historic night promoting and advocating for the music that brings joy to listeners across the globe.

Widely regarded as a hip-hop heavyweight and one of the most prominent in acts we have in rap today, Meek Mill will have to put his rapid progression on halt, after a judge found him guilty of violating his probation and remanded him to prison for a 2-4 year term.

Originally beginning his probation at the young age of 19 years old, the rap artist is still facing life changing consequences of that decade-old case at age 30, raising many questions about the effectiveness of our justice system.

One of the major provocations of the violation hearing is part of the reason why this decision is so controversial at the moment. The judge violated Meek Mill for a case involving him doing a wheelie on a dirt bike in the street, however that case had been dismissed which makes its relevance in his probation violation extremely confusing. Hip-Hop stars from Rick Ross to Jay-Z expressed their shock, outrage and sympathy for the rap star as he prepares to undergo a harsh transition from fame and fortune to rock bottom once again.

Nonetheless, Meek Mill, known recently for his project Wins & Losses as well as his long-standing feud with his rival hip-hop superstar, Drake, will have to look forward to an opportunity to get back in couple of years as the hip-hop community keeps him and his family in our thoughts.

In February of 2013, following the emergence of YouTube as a full music library, Billboard modified its process of charting songs by implementing a new formula that would include YouTube views. At first, the move was praised as fair to the artists not supported by the means of a major label, however like many ideas in the industry, this new policy left room for loop-holes.

Post Malone’s single, “Rockstar,” is currently sitting at the number 1 spot on the Billboard Top 100 spot, however there is a lot of controversy surrounding it’s positioning. A YouTube video that showed a looped version of “Rockstar’s” chorus alone was streamed 40 million times, propelling the song to the number one spot. This was not his original or his label promoted version of the song, it simply was the chorus looped for three minutes long. As a result of this, Billboard has opted to change the way in which they factor YouTube views into their equation.

The main adjustment to their policy is the emphasis on digital sales and streaming sites such as Spotify and Apple Music being weighed more than YouTube views when calculating the final charting of songs. Billboard explained by saying,

It is our goal at Billboard to accurately portray in an unbiased manner how music performs relative to other music… Billboard remains committed to being the book of record when it comes to tracking fan activity in and around music.

Ultimately, situations like this demonstrate just how unpredictable, and constantly changing the music industry can be. It’s hard to imagine the next platform to consume media with, but it is fair to assume that this isn’t the last wrench thrown into the format of charting songs and measuring artist popularity.

After breaking onto the hip-hop scene with their New Jersey classic “In The Kitchen,” Paterson’s own Guwii Kidz have followed up with their highly anticipated, self-titled project, “Guwii Kidz.” Having been featured on the first volume of RGF’s collaborative project, "RGF Volume 1," the Guwii Kidz have returned in a major way.

Hosted by DJ Holiday, their self-titled effort consists of 13 songs including features from the likes of Fetty Wap, M80, along with production from So Amazin Studios’ own, Cez Beats. The project also includes their most recognized singles such as “Please Don’t Call Me,” with an added verse from Fetty Wap to keep fans on their toes. When hip-hop fans think of the Guwii Kidz they think of the unmatchable energy that they bring to the table while creating, a re-occuring theme that is consistent with this body of work.

The project is now available on Datpiff, Soundcloud, and all other streaming outlets.

While Kanye's self-love might be enough for him, there's still thousands of people worldwide that pour their heart for the "Can't Tell Me Nothing" crooner.

The newest So Amazin intern, Ari, happens to be one of these die hard Kayne fans. As soon as she was asked who some of her favorite artists were, she mentioned Kanye and focused mainly on him. Almost two years after the release of The Life of Pablo, Ari seemed to still be blown away by Kanye's line in "I Love Kanye"

I used to love Kanye, I used to love KanyeI even had the pink polo, I thought I was KanyeWhat if Kanye made a song about KanyeCalled “I Miss The Old Kanye”? Man, that’d be so Kanye

We asked Ari to tell us exactly how she felt about one of her favorite rappers and her outlook on what he's done for not only hip-hop and music in general, but for the culture. Here's what she had to say about the autotune pioneer:

Who would make a song bashing himself, talking about how much better of a person he was in the past compared to present day? Then ending it saying he loves himself? Kanye would.

The real question here isn’t who would do it, but who would think to do it. Kanye is a musical genius, a trendsetter and risk taker. Kanye rolls the dice in this business. He is the reason newer artist such as Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, 21 Savage, Playboi Carti and many more are able to have a career in rap. He allowed music to be different. When Kanye first stepped into the game he was seen as a joke trying to make it while wearing pink polos and argyle sweaters. Rap was very masculine and “gangster”. Kanye changed that the second “The College Dropout” was released in 2004.

In my generation it’s hard for an artist to stay relevant. New artists come out every other month. Hit songs come and go, but Kanye is one of the few artists I know who has been able to stay at the top all these years. Every time he releases new album it gets attention from people of all ages. Whether you dislike Kanye because of his driven ego, media publicity stunts or tabloid marriage, there is no way you can say his music is trash. Every album and song is completely different. Throughout the years, Kanye changes his flow, which sometimes drives people crazy. . Try comparing his “Kon the Louis Vuitton Don” mixtape to his most recent album “The Life of Pablo”

"My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" was dropped when I was only 10 years old and still remains one of my all-time favorite albums. Whether I’m at school or in an environment with an older crowd I will always catch some people wearing a pair of Yeezys or oversized clothing inspired by his collections. No matter where you are or what age group you're talking to, everyone knows Kanye West. Everyone knows who he is, what he does, and that his name will forever be imprinted in the music industry.

In 1998, Bill Clinton was President of The United States, Eminem was recording his debut EP, and the uprising of social media that would transform the industry was a decade away from occurring. While hundreds of acts have come and gone since then, 1998 would be the last year a female rapper would have a number 1 record on the Billboard Top 100 Charts without the help of a feature from another artist. That makes 19 straight years without a repeat of this historical achievement despite the plethora of talented female artists we have seen in Hip-Hop since. Cardi B, a 2017 breakout artist hailing from New York, has officially landed the historic number 1 spot on Billboard's Top 100.

Cardi B via Complex

“Bodak Yellow,” a remix of Kodak Black’s song, “No Flockin,” is sweeping the nation, giving female hip-hop fans their first true, undeniable anthem in quite some time. Originally gaining notoriety through her appearances on the VH1 television show “Love & Hip-Hop” and her viral social media posts, Cardi B has emerged as one of biggest hip-hop artists to watch for going forward after inking a deal with Atlantic Records. Having already been remixed tirelessly throughout the music industry by rappers such as Montana of 300 and Kodak Black, “Bodak Yellow” has not only introduced Cardi B to the world as a legitimate artist going forward, but instantly propelled her into the conversation for top female rapper in the industry right now after rumors of tension between her and Nicki Minaj opened a debate.

Having escaped a life of poverty in addition to surviving domestic abuse and breaking through in an industry dominated by males since its creation, Cardi B is an act that Hip-Hop fans both male and female can rally around as a true underdog story. No matter where she turned, Cardi B was at a disadvantage and was able to push through every obstacle in her way. Only time will tell the impact she will have in the future, however with “Bodak Yellow” sitting comfortably at the number 1 spot on the charts and the obvious gravitation fans have to her personality, it appears as if Cardi B is here to stay whether you like it or not.

Whether you are referencing his overwhelming catalog of music, the countless artists that he’s introduced to the world, or the remarkable transformation he made following his release from prison, Gucci Mane is undoubtedly one of the most polarizing artists of our time. Prior to his arrest, Gucci Mane was suffering from a brutal addiction to lean, appearing as a lost cause as he slowly transitioned from a top artist and talent recruiter to a media spectacle that could be set off and led into disaster at any minute.

Following his conviction for illegal possession of a firearm, Gucci Mane took personal inventory and decided to use his time away from the free world to better prepare himself for a bright future. During his bid he was able to kick his drug/alcohol habit, became a model of physical health, and re-focused his energy on his music and his family. When he was released from prison in 2016, Gucci Mane re-positioned himself at the top of the hip-hop world and proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Keyshia Ka’Oir, while sitting courtside at an Atlanta Hawks game.

Monday night, Gucci Mane appeared as a guest on Trevor Noah’s Comedy Central talk show, “The Daily Show,” and shed some light on his mindset during this period of transition and self-reflection. According to Gucci Mane, his addiction to codeine-syrup, more commonly known in Hip-Hop as lean, proved to be one of the more problematic and scary facets of his life that led him down a dark road. While in prison, Gucci Mane explained to Noah that he realized his addiction could be a matter of life and death if not acted on quickly.

“I could’ve been one of the artists that don’t wake up the next day,” explained Gucci Mane. “I don’t want that in my future.”

Artists such as Pimp C and culture shifting personalities like ASAP Yams are just two of the many people in hip-hop that have passed away due to addiction to lean, making it a scary reality for artists due to its harmful mainstream image.

Going forward, Gucci explained to Noah that his upcoming album “Mr. Davis,” would be pushed back to October 17th instead of his originally scheduled September time-frame. Longtime fans of Gucci Mane are familiar with the date 10/17, an ode to his 1017 label that propelled him and others such as Waka Flocka Flame to superstardom, however this time the date holds more significance as it is also the date he will be getting married to his fiancé Keyshia Ka’Oir. It is blatantly clear that a healthy and focused Gucci Mane is very important not only for him and his new family but also for Hip-Hop music in general.

When the Remy Boyz first broke onto the hip-hop scene, the slogan boasted by Fetty Wap originated as “Monty up next.” While Fetty racked up numbers and Billboard-topping hits, fans eagerly awaited the emergence of Monty, an artist that had shown consistent flashes of star power throughout the rise of the Remy Boyz. After a successful year featuring singles such as “Let Em Know” with PNB Rock and “Know Shit” alongside A Boogie With The Hoodie, it may be time to simply say that Monty is up now..

The second visual off his sophomore project, Monty Zoo II, “Been Through,” is a track that reflects on the hardships and experiences Monty has lived through during his rise to fame. While still reminiscing about some hard times, Monty still manages to deliver the sound he emerged with that made Fetty and fans predict major things for him in the future.

Monty Zoo & Monty Zoo II are available on all major streaming platforms.

In the past decade, our culture has been dominated by the emergence of “big threes,” or teams composed of a few stand-out players that are simply capable of ravaging any and all competition brought before them. In basketball, we have the Warrior’s big three consisting of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson. In music, we have Shy Boogs, Peoples, and Fetty Wap.

Following up on his self-titled, multi-platinum debut album, Fetty Wap is sticking to the recipe that propelled him and his collective, Remy Boyz, into hip-hop superstardom by reuniting with Shy Boogs, Peoples, and his right-hand man, Remy Boy Monty for “There She Go.”

Having already proved his consistent ability to put numbers up on the charts, Fetty Wap is preparing fans for his highly anticipated second album, “King Zoo,” with a nostalgic sounding song that brings listeners back to the time when he first joined forces with Shy Boogs and Peoples. Already beginning to gain momentum in Billboard’s Top 100 songs, “There She Go” features Remy Boy Monty, an artist that has successfully carved his own lane in hip-hop after appearing on some of Fetty Wap’s biggest hits such as “How We Do Things” and “My Way.”

Peoples and Shy Boogs, both multi-platinum producers and creatives, are the minds behind some of the most recognizable Fetty Wap songs such as “Again” and “679,” proving time and time again to be one of the more consistent “big threes” in hip-hop music today. Already certified as shifters of music culture in New Jersey, this trio looks to expand on their already impressive run as fans eagerly await the arrival of “King Zoo,” one of the most highly anticipated hip-hop albums out of New Jersey.

Music is an aspect of our society that throughout history has been able to heal otherwise permanent wounds, shed light on important issues, and impact the world in way that cannot be duplicated. Whether speaking for someone else’s pain or from your own personal experience, almost everybody can say that they have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis in some way, shape, or form. While all aspects of this awful disease have the capability to test the will power of our strongest warriors, words cannot begin to accurately depict the pain of a parent that has learned their child has been diagnosed with leukemia.

When 24 year old New Jersey recording artist, Gio Perez learned of his daughter’s diagnosis, his entire world was flipped upside down. Having already served in the US Army fighting to defend our rights and protect our freedom, Perez was now faced with a battle unlike any war a soldier could confront. Consistent with the bravery he has already shown, Gio Perez wasted no time getting to work, for he was fighting for his most trusted soldier in the most important battle of their lives - the #LittleWarrior campaign was born.

The #LittleWarrior campaign is a movement started by Gio Perez himself for the purpose of using his ability and passion for music to not only raise money for his daughter, but also to inspire others impacted by cancer to remain strong and never underestimate the strength of a #LittleWarrior. Teaming up with producer and creative, Shy Boogs, Gio Perez recorded and shot the video for his single, “Little Warrior,” which can be found on youtube.

In the touching tribute to his daughter, Perez writes “whenever you’re in pain, just know that I’m here,” reinforcing his promise that she will never be fighting this battle alone. To compliment the song and visual, Perez held a benefit show on August 26th, 2017 to help raise funds and bring people under one roof for a night that truly helped put life into perspective for a lot of people. Tears were shed as the story of his daughter’s battle was told, reminding us how universal the pain cancer brings upon families can be.

It is often said that while on the battlefield, soldiers mentally abandon the “freedom” provocation in terms of their motivation to enter life threatening situations, for they are no longer fighting for their country, but for their fellow brothers and sisters in uniform alongside them. Moving forward, Perez will be fighting alongside a soldier whose bravery and perseverance holds no bounds, a solider that will never leave him behind – his #LittleWarrior Aaliyah.

For all those who would like to donate, the #LittleWarrior foundation is still up and working to reach the family's goal of $50,000.

Foundation Digital Films is back with another episode of "The Process". Dive into the life of pain, struggle, dedication and eminent triumph as this riveting cinematic documentary follows one of the most promising young artists breaking into the music industry today, PRiiMe. Take a walk in his shoes as PRiiMe leads you through a pivotal year in his “gutter to gold” march to obtain, what seemed unreachable, success. Generously laced with legendary interviews and multi-platinum perspectives, “The Process” ft. PRiiMe will show you what it truly means when you hear the phrase “hard work pays off”. To top it all off, with a cherry if you will, a professionaly shot music video for PRiMe's single “Think About” (co-direceted by PRiiMe) wraps it all up in a package with the intent to deliver strength and inspiration. The project was brought to you by Foundation Digital Films and sponsorsed by TUBLife Clothing.

In late June, Miami rapper Dramatic Thought released his debut EP, Unmasked. He's been doing some heavy promo for the project and most recently dropped the video for "Vice City," the eighth track off the EP. "Vice City" is the second track off of Unmasked to get the visual treatment; back in November, Dramatic Thought dropped the video for "Climb," the EP's first single.

In true Vice City fashion, Dramatic Thought pulls up on the hood of an old school car, rocking his Dwayne Wade jersey (no, not the new Bulls jersey, the Miami Heat one of course). He pulls off in the classic car and drives back to his crib, where he meets up with a girl who seems more than excited to see him. Next stop: a house party, where Dramatic's friends sing along for the third verse.

With some semi-gothic production from Shy Boogs and a catchy chorus, "Vice City" should be rocking all over Miami (and everywhere else)!

"Vice City"- and the rest of Unmasked- was produced, recorded and mixed by Shy Boogs in the Gallery Room and mastered by Key-Low in the Cyber Suite.

Last night, New Jersey rapper L-Boogie released his debut mixtape Less Is More (hosted by DJ On Point) on DatPiff. While many artists start promoting their projects months in advance, L-Boogie- being a true believer that less is more-released his mixtape just three days after the initial project announcement. Despite the title, L-Boogie gives us plenty of gems on this one. The New Jersey native goes through all 12 tracks without sugarcoating anything, sharing stories of his struggles.

Stream Less Is More below and make sure to follow L-Boogie on Instagram @L_BoogieNJ to stay updated on all of his releases.

Looks like someone's got Craft Monroe's attention. For "Vibe," Monroe tapped on frequent collaborator SkinnyFromThe9 to handle the chorus while he focused on lacing the track with bar after bar about this girl.

Skinny started off the track with, "I can't get you off my mind/ Shawty you a dime/ Girl please be mine/You are one of a kind/ I wanna let you know that I'm feeling your vibe."

The energy balance that's created when the two 908/Bluntside rappers collab is quite dope. Skinny, who's usually in charge of the hook, gives the tracks an energetic, radio and club-ready vibe. Skinny's energy gives Craft the opportunity to focus solely on showing off his pen game.

"I got five on me, five on me/ That means 250/ Split that, gave her half because she ride for me/ With that, we on the I-95 doing zigzags," raps Craft on his last verse.

"Vibe" was recorded and mixed by Shy Boogs in The Gallery Room at So Amazin Studios.

Can this be the same girl that Craft and Skinny were talking about in "Main Thing"? Hmm...

Looks like Malia Obama had (far) more exciting plans this past weekend than attending the Democratic National Convention. The first daughter headed to Chicago to attend the annual Lollapalooza music festival. Malia, who just graduated from high school seems to be enjoying her gap year prior to beginning classes at Harvard in 2017. The 18-year-old was caught dancing, twerking and revealing her short shorts on camera. But is this actually considered wild behavior? Barely, if at all. Who wouldn't want to party and relax a little before four years at Harvard? We can't blame an 18-year-old who hasn't had much privacy in the past eight years to want to let loose with her girlfriends every now and then.

However, not everyone took her outing so lightly. People commented on YouTube and Instagram videos questioning Malia's morals and Barack and Michelle's parenting. But, since that's obvious bologna, we're just going to laugh at those who trolled the critics.

Malia Obama: *gets into Harvard*Everyone: .....Malia Obama: *goes to a concert*Everyone: OMG HOW DARE SHE SO IRRESPONSIBLE

New York native Anthony Cruz goes by Brova Smoove when he gets behind the mic. He recently teamed up with Key-Low, an engineer at So Amazin Studio and the two have been able to take Brova's sound to a whole new level.

One of the first tracks that Brova recorded with Key-Low was "Let Me Talk Mah Shyt," where he's feeling himself and is ready to let loose with a tatted chick he's had his eyes on. He shows off his vocals and melodies on the hook, singing "I'm feeling so turned up/ I ain't have fun in a while/ She got that summer body/ Shawty come close to me."

Just one day after sharing "Let Me Talk My Shyt," the Bronx native released "Real or Fake." Here, Brova lets everyone know that he isn't here for the drama and distractions, he's focused solely on getting his money. He doesn't do much rapping here, rather keeps it melodic all the way through, which is pretty dope given the concept.

Both "Let Me Talk Mah Shyt" and "Real or Fake" were recorded by Key-Low in The Gallery Room at So Amazin Studios.

While B3B3 (pronounced Bay-Bay) is finalizing her self-titled debut album, she decided to team up with director Nimi Hendrix to give her single "Threat" the visual treatment.

In the video, B3B3 finds herself waking up handcuffed to a hospital bed (rough night?), but quickly gets up, walks out and pulls off in a Mercedes like nothing. "You ain't never been a threat to me," she raps as she's cruising in the Benz. Her next stop: meeting up with producer Just Blaze, who gifts her a leather briefcase. The purple-haired MC then pulls off and crashes a dinner party, where she's quick to pull the trigger on a girl who attempted to attack her with a sword. DJ Jazzy Joyce also makes a cameo.

If you're wondering why nobody seems to be a threat to B3B3, that's because they probably aren't even close to her level. The New Jersey native isn't just dope behind the mic, she's also dope behind the boards, usually mixing most of her tracks. Her resume doesn't stop there though, she's even opened up for Common and Taleb Kweli where she proved to be able to get a large crowd going.

"Threat" was produced by The Allies and finalized by Shy Boogs in The Gallery Room at So Amazin Studios.

James Corden has had some pretty dope passengers to sing along with him this year on "Carpool Karaoke," including JLo, Jason Derulo, Adele, Stevie Wonder and Justin Bieber. However, Michelle Obama may have just become his coolest passenger yet. The First Lady started giving Corden a tour of the outside of The White House before they got distracted singing Stevie Wonder. Shortly after Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours," ended, Corden and the FLOTUS turned up the volume for Beyonce's "Single Ladies" and of course did the dance.

Halfway through their tour, Missy Elliot joined the two. The three sang along to Missy's "This Is For My Girls" and "Get Ur Freak On."

Joe Budden is back with another Drake diss track "Just Because." This fourth diss comes after "Making A Murder Pt. 1," "Wake," and "Afraid." This track, however, creates a different tone than those preceding it. Here, Budden says that he's coming at Drake 'out of love."

Last month, Desiigner dropped his first mixtape, New English, despite having a a chart-topping single, the mixtape didn't get the best of reviews. However, Desiigner's name started buzzing again when XXL released his freshman 2016 freestyle. The 45-second clip showed Desiigner snapping and singing about Timmy Turner. Despite it being a freestyle, we can't say there was much- or any- rapping at all. Desiigner showcased something more like a hymn, one that was catchy enough to get lots of attention on social media. There have been remixes and parodies made of the song.

About a week after the freestyle was released, a video of Mike Dean and Desiigner surfaced, which showed them working with the freestyle acapellas. Rumors were going around about the freestyle being produced into a full song. Today, the rumors have been proven to be right. Mike Dean and Desiigner managed to make a 4-minute song off of Desiigner's snapping and mumbling.